Fingers crossed..got family visiting this afternoon

[PinkChick]

EVERYTIME ive had enquiries/calls/visits over last few months theyve gone belly up, even as late as the date they were due to start ...familiy coming today, one toddler, not particulaly local, theyve asked if i can do pick up (6.30am start)..i WOULD be able to use the car at this time, but i also have another mindee who arrives at 6.30, so would have to pick new child up earlier..drop off may be a prob as id have other children here all leaving at diff times..argh..first enquiry/visit in weeks..what do i do 8-(.x

I doesn't sound practical to me

what tiem would you be picking up the toddler - 6.30am? so you'd have to leave the house at what time?

Would they seriously want you to pick up and drop off? Do cms usually do this? Perhaps you could offer just pick up? I doubt she'll find another cm with the flexibility to do this, either, so she will have to make some compromises.

they sound like they'd be better off with a nanny tbh
I don't think ti would be fair on the child to woken up at 6am or whatever it would be to be ready intime for a 6.30am pick up

lol compo. My ds is 20 months and up by 5.15am. He's ready for the day and wanting to go outside well before 6am!

It does sound like they'd be better off with a nanny, but if they can't afford a nanny, then they will need to compromise on drop off and pick ups. That's unfair to even ask of you imo.

yes but he might not be in a couple of monthsm years etc , hopefully, and you definitely won't want to be waking him up!! lol

thanks everyone, LO is 2years and id have to pick up about 6.15 to get back here for other mindee/own dd waking up...its just the first 'real' enquiry ive had in ages and im trying to make it work ..i did say that i ,couldnt do pick ups and drop offs to mum and theyre still coming, so thats positive but it would mean a bus ride for her and her LO every 6.30 start, then bus back to work for her..i know if it has to be done it has to be done and i DO offer long/early/late hours unlike most cm's round here..but am feeling a bit about it before they even come as it sounds to me like it will be too much hassle for them?

PC are you registered for overnight care? That might be a solution

No way should you be trekking across town to pick up, it's not reasonable

fingers crossed

Hi everyone, theyve been and were all lovely ..i have told them i WILL pick up for the earlies, they didnt expect me too as id said i wouldnt but as they dont drive(taking lessons) at the minute and the buses dont start till later, it was a dead end situation!..i said i cant drop off as i would have other children with me then and mum was very happy i could do the pick up.
will be about 25 hours a week so would be really nice.
I havent give contract as mum waiting for paperwork back from employer on training and start date and ive used all abrring one of my contracts up by giving them out and all the others falling through, so i said once paperwork back and we know date, then we'll do contracts and ill do a couple of settling in sessions.
am excited but still as the 3 last new starters didnt happen!?..have said i wont take retainer until employer gets in touch, but that they need to keep me informed so we can get it all sorted out asap..so am pleased..i think..lOL..yeah i am..but i want someone to come today and start tomorrow and then i know theyre coming LOL

sorry, yes am reg for overnights too

Just be careful you don't end up agreeing to do too much just to get the business. Of course the parents will be nice to you, they want you already to do more than is usual for a CM.

True, compo... I hope!
Congrats on a lovely visit, PC, I hope it works out for you.

make sure that you write in the contract that you will be paid for the time taken to collect the child, so if you leave at 6 am to collect at 6 30 you will bill from 6 am

good luck sweetie x x x

Thanks StarExpat
and FabIsGettingFit ..you know me well ...i always go the etra mile and get it flung back in my face, hopefully this wont be one of those times!...we'll do contracts in 3 weeks, ill add a disclamer about offering pick ups until further notice/mum passes test and anything else i can think off!..will give her an email tonight and attatch my t&c so she can have a read through and ask any other questions if needs be

Thanks Keynes, yes i will be doing that, ill be charging from the time i set off..ooh wil have to ring insurance nearer the time too as i dont use car for work at minute!

hmm..toddler is 2 1/2...am i right thinking my dd's seat and high backed booster wont be suitable?..have said we'd have to use theirs but think we'll need a spare!?..glad i come on here to help me question my self haha

A 2 1/2 year old needs a 5 point harness.

thankyou, will look into that when contracts signed

You aren't being paid for the pick-ups are you? Even if they're only covering your fuel costs it will still invalidate your insurance. Just wanted to make sure you know. The only way round it is if they offer to make a voluntary contribution to your costs but you cannot ask for it or ask for a specific amount of money.

That is a good point. If you have to leave the house at 6.15am to pick up their child then they have to pay you from 6.15am.

hiya, yes ill be charging from when i leave and changing my car insurance to business use so will be charging an hours rate for the pick up, they would pay about the same if they could get a bus down, a taxi would be much more ..thanks for thinking of these things for me tho

Hi PinkChick. You need to check with your insurance company because mine told me very clearly that I couldn't do that.

I can charge for the time I have the child and for the journey time so you can charge for the childminding time from when you leave the house. However you cannot charge any extra on top of that to pay you to do the pick up itself. If they pay extra because you are picking up that becomes using your car for hire or reward. That invalidates your car insurance even if you have business use. The only way to do it is for the family to give you extra money which you have not billed them for voluntarily. You cannot agree with them beforehand how much money this will be.

I hope that makes sense.

I read it as her charging for her 'time' and not a charge for the pickup. Maybe I read it wrong?

It wasn't very clear and I'd hate for her to invalidate her insurance. If you just charge for the time it takes you that's fine. You just can't bill for an extra hour to cover the cost of the pickup. I wasn't really sure which she was doing.

If Pinkchick leaves at 6.15 to collect the child then she is working from then and needs to charge as such. Otherwise she is helping them out for free and that isn't right. I think this family might turn out to be a nightmare tbh. Do you really want to be having to leave the house that early every day?